Article in today’s The Conversation on Glasgow’s imperial history
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Host City Glasgow: signs of slavery and the imperial past are never far away
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Category Archives: Current Affairs
Why Scotland must face up to slave trade past
Follow the link below for an article in the Sunday Herald on the Empire Cafe activities, opening on 24 July (until 1 August) at the Brigait.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/why-scotland-must-face-up-to-slave-trade-past.24677369
Manchester Policy Blogs | Statues in the park are not just figures from the past
Paul Sutton – Nationalism in the Caribbean: Symbol and Substance in the Long-View
This blog piece will provide a summary of the POCO Group meeting on 4 March 2014, when Paul Sutton delivered a stimulating lecture on ‘Nationalism in the Caribbean: Symbol and Substance in the Long-View’.
Paul Sutton
Described as a ‘legend of Caribbean Studies’ by Graham Campbell of the African Caribbean Network, Professor Paul Sutton has recently retired after a pre-eminent forty year academic career and the group were keen to hear his views. The lecture began with two excerpts that related to Jamaican and Scottish independence which Paul used to outline the interchangeability and similarities between both movements. According to this view, nationalism was a central feature of both. Paul quoted Benedict Anderson’s influential book Imagined Communities which suggested that nationalism brings people together in one country yet also divides them from each other [1]. Two concepts were deployed to outline parallels with nationalism in the Caribbean which was then compared with Scotland. ‘Symbol’ referred to rhetoric and vision that drove nationalism and promoted independence movements (examples included national mottos such as Jamaica’s
‘Out of many, one people’) whilst ‘substance’ described to the practical effects and consequences for post-colonial states.
Caribbean nationalism had several common characteristics (although individual islands retained very distinctive identities), including a shared history of indenture and chattel slavery. In the twentieth century, this fostered the desire to regain control from the colonial master, Great Britain. In order to reinforce this point, an influential speech of March 1961 by Dr Eric Williams – one of the founding fathers of the modern Caribbean – was quoted:
Massa Day Done everywhere. How can anyone in his senses expect Massa Day to survive in Trinidad and Tobago? For Massa Day Done in Trinidad and Tobago, too, since the advent of the PNM [People’s National Movement] in 1956. Let us assess the position in Trinidad today. [2]
Dr Eric Eustace Williams
Paul Sutton met Eric Williams in 1980 and compiled a list of his speeches the next year. Williams was the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and retained this position up to his death in March 1981. Preceding his political career, he was an academic historian and author of Capitalism & Slavery, a wonderful text which continues to influence researchers today. In both politics and academic writing, Williams was critical of colonialism yet he also sought to retain aspects of Government and administration. Whilst the ‘Massa’ stood for racial hierarchy and exploitation as well as the degradation of West India labour and expropriation of wealth, it was also recognised that the British implemented successful modes of governance – the Westminster model – that could be applied in independent Caribbean states.
However, Williams and others were described by more radical proponents of nationalism – such as the Black Power Revolution in T&T – as ‘Afro-Saxons’ as they did not fully reject the values of ‘Massa’. 
Similarly, there are parallels with the vision for Scottish independence as the sterling will be retained as well as the Queen as head of state. Nonetheless, national heroes in respective Caribbean states are mainly leaders of rebellions or working class leaders and several have airports named after them. Will there be an Alex Salmond Airport in Glasgow or Edinburgh post-September 2014? Will George Square in Glasgow be reclaimed? The issues for any newly independent state with regards to the assimilation or authenticity of shared heritage was discussed and the example of modern Trinidad illustrated any view of the national past varied amongst a ethnically diverse population.
In terms of the substance for post-colonial states, Paul argued that West Indian nationalism legitimated the movement for independence and led to the creation of a separate post-colonial state. This state was marked by a real difference to the colonial predecessor, especially in economics. Importantly, increased state power was assumed to be the key to economic and social progress. 
This drew comparisons with the vision for post-Union Scotland and it was noted that much of the debate surrounding the referendum has centred on economics and the vision that Government intervention will lead to a more equitable society. In order to elucidate his views, Paul drew on the experience of Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana and outlined three periods when the state implemented change in the respective nations.
The period 1950-1970 saw gradual change and was marked by the transition from agriculture to industry, which was termed ‘industrialisation by invitation’. 
The state was reformed to prioritise education, for example, which was deemed to be in the national interest. In terms of Foreign Policy, links with both the U.S. and Great Britain were maintained. Radical change marked the years 1970 to 1980, especially in Guyana where the state cut all ties with the British Monarchy and became a Republic. Paul argued that the radical nature of these years was based on the failure of the gradualism in the previous decades. Yes, there was a national flag and airline but did this initiate real change? The new international economic order arguably led to calls for Caribbean integration whilst there was political opposition on the international stage from America as well as internally from the middle classes. The 1980s saw the gradual adoption of neo-liberal capital economics as integration – not separation – with the global economy was viewed as the way forward, a process that accelerated in the 1990s. There was a return to privatisation and foreign management and Paul discussed the emigration of the educated elites (‘the brain drain’ or ‘human capital flight’), especially from Guyana. In recent times, there has been a desire to look back on the period before independence as the halcyon times, demonstrated by one opinion poll in 2011 which suggested 60 per cent of Jamaicans felt the nation would be better off under British rule. Is this a caveat for pro-independence Scots?
Paul Sutton finished by pointing out that there was national pride in respective countries and regional pride in sporting achievement but the vision that state power would unlock economic and social progress was now over. He contrasted this with British Overseas territory in the Caribbean: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands. All have significant political autonomy and also a higher per capita income than Great Britain. ‘Contingent Liability’ means the U.K. Government control finance. Thus, for Paul Sutton, they had the ‘best of both worlds’ and he concluded: ‘Symbols of independence are attractive but the substance of independence is elusive. There are no guarantees – so be careful what you wish for!’.
This provocative and stimulating lecture promoted a lively discussion amongst attendees that mainly focused on the political and historical differences between Scotland the Caribbean. From a historical perspective, it was pointed out that Scotland was never officially colonised. Indeed, the political elites agreed to the Incorporating Union of 1707 and effectively voted the Scottish Parliament out of existence. Article IV of the Union allowed for free trade with the English colonies in the New World and access to colonial commodities that dominated the global economy – tobacco, sugar and eventually cotton. In fact, Eric Williams described the impact of slavery on Scotland in his seminal text Capitalism & Slavery. Thus, many Scots were also ‘Massa’ in the West Indies and the nation reaped the economic benefits of colonialism for over two centuries. The legacy of slavery on Scotland is still under debate but another commentator pointed out the nation has a well advanced economy and financial system and, according to one report, would be a ‘rich and diversified country’ after independence. By contrast, the recent CARICOM press release for reparations outline the case is being pursued on the basis that the colonies suffered through the slave trade and slavery. Reparations are sought for ‘six broad aspects of the Caribbean condition that are the direct result of these crimes’, which are cultural deprivation, education, public health, cultural institutions, psychological trauma and scientific and technological backwardness. In short, Scotland is in a far better economic position to cope with the transition to independence than any of the former colonies of the British West Indies. Ironically, it was the expropriation of labour and sugar coated wealth in the colonial period that fuelled Scotland’s rise to a leading industrial nation.
[1] Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, (Verso, 1991).
[2] Excerpt from Forged From the Love of Liberty: Selected Speeches of Dr. Eric Williams, compiled by Paul K. Sutton (Trinidad: Longman Caribbean, 1981).
More News on the Empire Cafe
The Sunday Herald ran a story on the Empire Cafe this Sunday (19 January 2014).
Read more about the cafe, the space it is using and how it will be challenging and drawing attention to Glasgow’s history with slavery. It will run for the last week of July 2014, at the same time as the Commonwealth Games.
The Empire Cafe also have a twitter page – which you can follow for more information. If you want to get in touch with them then please do so through their twitter (we are not affiliated with them).
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
As armistice day approaches, we remember the millions who died not only in the two World Wars but in in conflicts since. It is a day of national remembrance but it is not just about British men and women. The contribution that men and women from Britain’s empire played in the war effort should not be forgotten – thousands of whom also died for Britain.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains the cemeteries and memorials for the 1.7 million people who died in the two world wars in 153 countries. Their website provides a database of the men and women who are remembered (although there are many who are not named).
But as men and women from the empire came to join British forces, many of their bodies were not repatriated and many were buried or cremated in Britain or in the fields of war. Rupert Brooke’s famous poem, ‘The Soldier’ talks of:
If I should die, think only this of me;
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England
Well, similarly there are parts of Britain that are for ever Indian, Canadian, South African, Australian etc.
A quick search of the cemeteries in Glasgow brings up many who originated from these countries and were buried in Scotland. Just two examples include –
Peter Mathai, a 20 year old Indian who served in the Navy during World War Two
Annie Winifred Munro, a South African nurse, who died during World War One.
So on November 11th, remember their contributions too.
Talking about Haiti: Further Post
On Tuesday 29 November 2013, a public Black History month event ‘Talking about Haiti’ took place in the St Andrews Building at the University of Glasgow. Distinguished speakers Matthew J. Smith, Rawle Gibbons and Nick Nesbitt talked about C. L. R. James, The Black Jacobins, the Haitian Revolution, Haiti today and the Scotland connection.
It seems that Glasgow and Haiti are connected in many ways, not least through migration patterns and the Haitian-Caribbean connection. Glasgow also hosts a lively Haiti Support Group.
For more information on the Haiti Support Group, please see their website: http://www.haitisupportgroup.org/
Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Commonwealth
Following Matthew Waites’ talk to the Glasgow Colonial and Postcolonial Group in May 2013:
C. Lennox and M.Waites (eds) Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Commonwealth: Struggles for Decriminalisation and Change (London: School of Advanced Study, University of London, June 2013) is now published.
It is available *free online* here, where you can download all chapters:
http://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/publications/house-publications/lgbt-rights-commonwealth
There is a Facebook site on which you can follow updates about dissemination events, this includes links to videos from book launches in London and Toronto, where talks focused on the theme of ‘Learning from the Global South’.
Video from Toronto (Canada) book launch with the Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights project there is here, including activists speakers from Botswana and Uganda:
Video of Matthew Waites speaking at London book launch on 5 July is here:
Scotland and “imperial” sport
If cricket is the ultimate sporting symbol of the ‘British’ empire, is it also the ultimate example of the dominance of the ‘English’ in this empire? England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the West Indies are the main cricketing nations but the new affiliates include Ireland, Canada, Kenya and Scotland these days (not forgetting the Netherlands and Afghanistan of course) who were all once colonies of the British Empire. Various historians have written about how the English exported cricket to its empire and how cricket became a symbol of imperialism and nationalism. Wales are included within the ‘England’ cricket team. Northern Ireland’s cricket has never taken off – they played once in the 1998 Commonwealth Games (according to Wikipedia). So with Glasgow’s forthcoming hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2014 is this the time for a further revival in Scottish cricket?
Well Scotland do have a cricket team as stated. In 1994 they joined the ICC and played in the 1999 and 2007 World Cups (they didn’t qualify in 2003 or 2011). They will be hosting Pakistan for two ODIs in May 2013 in Edinburgh and playing Australia in Edinburgh for an ODI in September after the Ashes and also a test match with the Australia A team in June as the Australians warm up for the Ashes (see cricinfo for more Scotland cricket fixtures this summer). Scotland have actually had a cricket team since 1865 (see the CricketEurope site), they played Australia and South Africa in the 19th century, the West Indies in 1906 and India in 1911, so why have they never reached the international success of other members of the British Empire? And why have they only come to the international stage since the 1990s? Can any of their ‘outsider’ status within the imperial game be attributed to Scotland’s position within the British Isles and Empire?
Ryan Watson plays through backward point against India at Glasgow’s Titwood ground on 16 August 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Well cricket is not featuring in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow although it might feature again in the 2018 games in Australia, so it’s not going to get more attention next summer. As noted there are some high-profile teams coming to Scotland this summer though. And Glasgow University is holding a conference in May 2013 on C. L. R. James and his seminal book on cricket (and race and empire and nationalism and class and many other things!), Beyond a Boundary. Mike Brearley, the former England test captain, among a range of writers, fans and academics will be speaking over 9-11 May. Link to Beyond a Boundary Conference Website. What would James have said about Scotland’s role within the cricketing hierarchy and cricketing Commonwealth?
The University of Glasgow: International Story
Last Thursday (21 March 2013) saw the official launch of the University of Glasgow’s new site called the ‘International Story‘ which highlights the range of international students that have joined the University since its inception.
It’s a really useful resource put together by a team of archivists and students. It has an interactive map, you can search by country, follow editors’ highlights and there’s even (at the moment) a tab for Commonwealth countries, in light of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. I thoroughly recommend it – and it’s still expanding.
One of the aims of this blog is to explore Glasgow’s relationship with empire, especially to reconsider and re-assess this relationship in light of the forthcoming Games. Glasgow, and Scotland, were as involved and complicit in empire as those in London, and hopefully this blog will shed more light on these relations. This also means highlighting some of the positive reciprocal relations that Glasgow had with its empire and includes thinking about people from the colonies who came to Glasgow.
Richard Symonds’ book, Oxford and Empire: The Last Lost Cause? (St Martin’s Press, 1986) explores in detail the ways in which Oxford University educated men for empire, whether through the colonial service or as governors and viceroys, as well as discussing the men and women who came over from the colonies to study at the dreaming spires. Glasgow University has a similar story to tell, which would be worth exploring further. There are some interesting examples of students involved with empire in one way or another, and we hope to have more on them in a later post, but in the meantime let me point you towards some interesting figures:
James McCune Smith – a former slave who was denied admission in US universities because of his race, but was admitted to Glasgow and became the first African-American to receive a university medical degree.
Andrew Watson – born in Guyana to a former (Scottish) slave owner. He was not only the first black Scottish football player but also went on to captain the Scottish team in 1881 [comparison should be made with K. S. Ranjitsinhji, an Indian student at Cambridge who made his debut for the England cricket team in 1896 and was seen as a bit of pioneer, but Watson in fact proved that even earlier sporting teams that revelled in ‘national’ pride were willing to accept men of a different skin colour and from the colonies – does this mean their idea of ‘Britishness’ or ‘Scottishness’ was broader than we think?]
Merbai Vakil – the first female Indian graduate of Glasgow University, in 1897. In fact, in the early twentieth century, the largest group of ‘foreign’ students in total at British universities were Indian (not American, French or other) – a clear indication of the links that Britain and India had at the time.
Glasgow University in the 1890s
Glasgow: Imperial City 